A Working Holiday

For this trip we are away for 10 days or so, leaving on Friday in the pouring rain.  By the time we pulled into Taihape for our lunch stop the weather had cleared.  I set out our lunch while Robin went to the handy coffee cart next to us. “Keep an eye on that rubbish tin”  he instructed, while we ate our lunch in the van.  Seems that a very cheeky blackbird had discovered that people deposit left over food in the bin and he flutters down inside to have a forage around.  We saw him exit with a chip in his beak, but never when the camera was ready.  What a clever blackbird!

There’s a blackbird in this bin

We like to have  the radio on while we are traveling, tuned to Magic which plays “all the songs you know and love”.  And look, they're playing my extra special favourite song, Ten Guitars.  I love it so much I’ve told the family I want it played at my funeral!  This song was such a hit out here when it was first released it became known as The New Zealand National Anthem.

I know all the words to my favourite song

Driving along the Desert Road we got good views of Mt Ruapehu, with it’s top covered in snow.  Those clouds looked threatening, and as we traveled further along, the mountain top became obscured with cloud cover.

Mt Ruapehu

We followed behind this sign on the litter collection van for a while until it was safe to pass him.  Never seen one of these before, but it’s good that our hi-ways and bi-ways are being kept clean.  Mind you, if people didn’t litter, we wouldn't need staff picking up after them.

New (to us) sign

Before too long we arrived at our site for the night, NZMCA Taupo Airport.  Those dark clouds brought heavy rain during the night, beating on the roof and leaving big puddles everywhere.  The weather wasn’t right for sky diving, but we watched a couple of planes arriving and departing, and there is always action from the helicopters next door to the camp.

At Taupo Airport

Next morning we drove from Taupo to Rotorua, about 100kms, and quite a pretty trip traveling through rolling farmland and forests.  Everything looked so green and fresh.

On the way to Rotorua

Can you see the Skyline Gondolas snaking up and down the hill?  It’s been some time since we’ve had a trip on them, might have to plan another ride sometime soon.

Skyline Gondolas at Rotorua

Almost there – drove through the cute little village of Ngongotaha and we arrived at the Ngongotaha NZMCA park, where we are staying for the next two nights.

Staying at Ngongotaha

That’s where the working part of this holiday came in.  The caravan got a “deep clean” as some people say, instead of just a spit and polish.  Everything got a wipe down, the insides of drawers were washed, as were the base of various cupboards.  With all this activity happening, Gemma wondered what on earth was going on.

What are you doing, Mum?

And the reason for all this extra activity?  If you don’t already know, pop by tomorrow and all will be revealed.